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Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb has warned his team to cut out their sloppy mistakes – despite an impressive weekend win.
The Fleet moved up to third in National League South after a 4-3 success at Hungerford, leaving them just three points off top spot.
But they had to endure a nervy finale, having led 4-1 with 10 minutes to go before conceding two late goals.
Kutrieb warned: “I wasn’t really happy with the performance, I thought we were sloppy at times, too sloppy and conceded easy goals.
“We’ve stopped that in the last few months but Saturday we were sloppy in defence, it was not good enough against dangerous strikers. We knew both strikers are big threats and we had to be careful so I’m not happy both of them scored.
“As I’ve said many times before it is a tough place to come if you want to win and be successful, and after 90 minutes of course I’d take 4-3. It can’t be like it was but we played very well (going forward), much better than them. We were prepared and we played a good game but sometimes a bit sloppy.
“As a team in some areas we were not good enough. We need to be careful, we need to speak about it and work on it.”
Despite his moans, Kutrieb was impressed with Ebbsfleet’s attacking quality, they scored some terrific goals and avoided a potential FA Cup hangover following their first round exit at Leyton Orient seven days earlier.
“As a manager you always find the negatives and try to make it better,” noted Kutrieb.
“I won’t forget we had a good performance offensively. If you score four goals you need to win and that’s what we did. I’m really happy because it’s a tough place to come.
“I don’t want to get it wrong, I’m really happy we got the three points as the boys worked hard for it and deserved it. We can have it easier, definitely.
“There will be a few more big tests coming up but it was the biggest test so far after the ‘glorious’ 1-0 defeat to Leyton Orient.
“We did the basics right but we can be better in certain areas. To come here after a cup defeat is even more tough so that’s made me even prouder that they’ve delivered.”
Ebbsfleet host Welling on Saturday in National League South.